The Historical Archives of the European Union at the European University Institute and the Otto von Habsburg Foundation are organising an exhibition and conference on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the birth of Otto von Habsburg, entitled,
“I thank God that I am a member of the European Parliament.”
Venue: European University Institute, Villa Salviati (Via Bolognese 156 – 50139 Firenze)
Date: Friday, October 7, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
In May 1990, when a journalist asked the former heir to the Hungarian throne if he felt any regret at not having become King of Hungary, Otto von Habsburg replied with the above response.
During his nearly 20 years in the European Parliament between 1979 and 1999, Otto von Habsburg played an active role in the dismantling of the Iron Curtain and in promoting the idea that genuine European integration could only be completed with the accession of the Central and Eastern European states of the continent. His vast historical and political experience gave him great insights into world politics as well as a sound understanding of the specificities of national policies.
The exhibition of the Otto von Habsburg Foundation, complemented by a selection of documents from the Historical Archives of the European Union, aims to summarise the story of the long life of its namesake. During the conference, participants will recall the political activities of Otto von Habsburg and discuss the relevance of his ideas and thoughts.
Details and programme of the conference on the website of EUI
Programme
10:00 Registration
11:00 – 11:20 Opening remarks
Renaud Dehousse, President, European University Institute
Dieter Schlenker, Director, Historical Archives of the European Union
Gergely Prőhle, Director, Otto von Habsburg Foundation
11:20 – 11:40 Alain Lamassoure, Former Member of the European Parliament and Former Minister for European Affairs
The Role of Otto von Habsburg in Forging the European Idea
11:40 – 12:00 Aline Sierp, Associate Professor at Maastricht University
The Role of the European Parliament in the Changes of 1989
12:00 – 12:20 Enikő Győri, Member of the European Parliament
The Responsibility of the European Parliament in Shaping the Profile of Europe
12:40 – 13:00 Tibor Navracsics, Hungary’s Minister for Regional Development and EU Funds
What Does Subsidiarity Mean for Today’s European Politics?
13:00 – 13:15 Discussion
13:15 – 13:30 Closing remarks
13:30 Reception
Programme_HOAL_EUI
The event will be held in English.
We look forward to welcoming you at our event!
Event image: The MEP Otto von HABSBURG during a session in Strasbourg in July 1981. © European Union – 1981 EP Source: EP Multimedia Centre, Reference: 19810700
